STAFF

Head
Coach Larry Ray(Idaho State '74)
123-76 (.618) / three years
1998 SEC Coach of the Year

After only
three seasons, Larry Ray, 47, has guided Florida to becoming a perennial Southeastern
Conference headliner and has put the Gators’ name on the national scene.

Perhaps
known best for the 1998 campaign in which Ray led the Gators to a 47-22 season,
claiming the Southeastern regular-season title, the SEC Eastern Division title,
and the Gator’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Region 6 Championship along the
way, Gator squads have captured several other honors under his wing.

A 34-29
overall and 13-15 mark in 1999 earned UF its third-consecutive berth into the
Southeastern Conference Tournament as well as its third-straight, 30-plus win
season. The Gators were also ranked preseason for the first time at No. 20 in
the USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ Poll.

In Florida’s
marquee season to date, Ray was named the 1998 SEC Coach of the Year while former
Gator pitcher Chelsey Sakizzie became Florida’s first softball All-America player.
Florida recorded nine victories over top-25 teams, the most in the SEC, and
finished the ‘98 season ranked 25th in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.

Ray led
the Gators to a 42-25 inaugural season record (16-8 SEC) in 1997, including
a third-place finish in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division and a trip
to the SEC Tournament Championship game. Florida also split with nationally-ranked
instate rivals Florida State and South Florida and defeated No. 12 Oklahoma
State, while playing a challenging schedule that included five College World
Series teams.

The top
assistant at perennial national power Arizona for 10 seasons, Ray joined the
Gator program on Sept. 4, 1995 as the University of Florida’s choice as head
coach of the inaugural Gator softball team and spent over a year recruiting
to build the foundation of the UF squad.

Ray brings
more than 20 years of coaching experience to the Gator program. Since joining
the Arizona program in 1986, the Wildcats have posted seven top-three finishes
at the College World Series. Arizona reached the NCAA Championship game in each
of the last five seasons of Ray’s tenure, claiming the title three times (1991,
’93, ’94). Arizona also claimed the 1992 and 1994 Pacific-10 Conference softball
titles during Ray’s time with the Wildcat program. At Arizona, Ray coordinated
recruiting and his on the field responsibilities include outfield play, base
running, and the short game. During games, Ray coached first base and handled
several defensive assignments. He has authored several articles for Women’s
Fastpitch World magazine and has produced two coaching videos.

Ray brings
a solid fast-pitch background to the Florida program, using his knowledge as
both a player and coach. He compiled a 70-13 record as coach of Boulder City
High School in Boulder City, Nev., from 1982-85. In his first season at Boulder
City, Ray guided a team that had won only one game the previous two seasons
to 17-3 record and the Class AA state championship. Boulder City also won state
titles his final two seasons, posting a 20-1 record in 1984 and a 24-1 mark
in 1985.

A 1974 graduate
of Idaho State University, Ray lettered as a second baseman in baseball plus
as a wide receiver and place kicker in football. He was a 1972 District 7 All-America
selection at second base. At West Valley Junior College in Campbell, Calif.
(now Saratoga), Ray earned two letters in football and one letter in baseball
before transferring to ISU. He led California JCs in football scoring in 1969.

Ray played
in five World Tournaments in competitive fastpitch as a middle infielder for
the Las Vegas Aces and Las Vegas Cowboys teams. He was a member of the fifth-place
team at the 1980 World Tournament.

Ray and
his wife, Dawn, have a daughter, Bree, 7, and two sons, Derek, 22, and Taylor,
6.

A Ray of
Light: A Look at Ray’s Three-Year Tenure

1998 SEC Coach of the
Year

Coached the 1998 Player
of the Year and Uf’s First Louisville Slugger All-American, Chelsey Sakizzi

5 All-SEC Players Totaling
7 Award

4 Players Earning 5
SEC Academic Honor Roll Accolade

2 SEC All-Tournament
Players Totaling 3 Awards

2 NCAA Tournament All-Region
Players

Coached UF to its first
national ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll (No. 25 March 17, 1998)

Received UF’s highest
national ranking of No. 23 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll May 6, 1998

Won UF’s First
SEC Championship in 1998

Clinched UF’s first
SEC Eastern Division Title and received the program’s first NCAA Bid in
1998

The 1997 Inaugural
Team advanced to the SEC Tournament Championship game